10 August 2026

Volodymyr Ananyev, the oldest Crimean political prisoner, marks his 77th birthday behind bars.

Today, August 10, Crimean civil activist Volodymyr Ananyev turns 77. For the second year in a row, he is spending his birthday behind bars in a Russian detention center.

He was born on August 10, 1949, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. When he was three years old, his family moved to Kerch. After graduating from high school, he relocated to Kyiv. For many years, Ananyev was engaged in public, legal, and journalistic activities. He took an active part in the land reform, advocating for the rights of landowners and supported the faithful of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Today, Volodymyr Ananyev is the oldest among the Ukrainian political prisoners unlawfully held by Russia in temporarily occupied Crimea.

On February 1, 2024, Russian security forces detained Volodymyr Ananyev in Simferopol. He was accused of allegedly preparing a terrorist attack against an official of the peninsula’s occupation administration. Following his arrest, he was placed in custody. Later, he was indicted on charges relating to the unlawful handling of explosive substances and alleged complicity in the preparation of a terrorist attack.

Volodymyr Ananyev suffers from severe medical conditions. He requires a walking stick due to mobility issues with his legs, has glaucoma, and suffers from arterial hypertension. He is in need of continuous medical supervision and a special diet. However, these basic needs are neglected in the Russian pre-trial detention facility, which only intensify his health condition.

Despite these conditions, in his letters from Russian imprisonment, he strives to remain strong in spirit. Volodymyr notes that he sustains himself through reading, writing poetry, and praying: “I maintain my mental and physical shape. Truth be told, there is nothing to read, so I write and compose rhymes. I train my memory and fingers, my endurance and patience.” He also acknowledges that he misses his family above all: “In my free time, I speak to you, to the angels, and to God.”

Currently, Volodymyr Ananyev is being held in Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 5 in Rostov-on-Don, where he remains awaiting further proceedings in his case.

He spends his 77th birthday in a cold cell. Concluding his letter, Ananyev addresses his loved ones: “I hug you all, my darlings! Let us pray, stay strong! Amen”. These lines have become a symbol of his resilience despite his age, severe health condition, and more than two years of unlawful imprisonment.